Ready to Rock? Tips for surviving the summer festival circuit

Ready to Rock? Tips for surviving the summer festival circuit

It’s officially summer and that means outdoor concerts and music festivals galore. Whether you’re a first-timer or a full-fledged festival fanatic, the potential for concert chaos is high. Fortunately, Elizabeth Thompson, the managing editor of Paper magazine and a seasoned veteran of the summer concert circuit, shared her top survival tips with us. Familiarize yourself with these before taking the festival plunge and you’ll forget all about the inevitable sunburn, empty wallet and dehydration and only remember the good time.

Plan ahead: If the festival has multiple stages, Thompson advises making a list of the artists’ playtimes and planning accordingly. “I feel like most festivals post their schedules online,” she says. “Try to come up with a game plan beforehand. Otherwise, you’ll be overwhelmed the second you get there. It will be sensory overload.”

Pick a meeting spot: Remember the pre-cell-phone age when you had to make a plan and stick with it? Neither do we. But nowadays, cell phones are so ubiquitous that they can actually take us back in time and put us out of contact. “When you are at a really big festival, there’s so many people there, the cell phone service is terrible, calls get dropped and you don’t get texts,” Thompson says. “So if you are with friends, have a meeting spot if you get separated.”

Bring food and water—if you can: Thompson recommends carrying protein-packed foods like nuts or water-based fruits like watermelon to keep you full and quench your thirst. “Most places don’t typically let you bring stuff in, and they’ll check. Whenever I know I’m going to go somewhere like that, I try to eat a lot before I go and gear up and be hydrated, especially in the summer,” she says. “But the downside to drinking a lot of water before you go is that you are going to have to pee there.” And that brings us to her next crucial concert tip.

AvoidPorta-Potty woes: When attending a smaller festival, the organizers don’t always exhibit the common sense of concert veterans such as Pitchfork, Coachella and Lollapalooza. A frequent flaw at these smaller gatherings is the lack of Porta-Pottys. “I just went to a festival in Williamsburg last weekend and it had one Porta-Potty,” Thompson says. “There was a huge line, and in a situation like that, I just get in line the second I think I have to pee.” And even if the infamous crossed-leg technique starts to fail, don’t cut in line. “If you get caught, people will start screaming at you.” Thompson also reminds concertgoers to carry hand sanitizer or Kleenex to keep the cooties at bay.

Be prepared to spend: Most larger festivals won’t let attendees bring in water or food, so it’s best to prepare to shell out cash for sustenance. “Even if you are not planning on eating or buying a lot of stuff, come with money,” Thompson says. “At these things, the ATM charges a ridiculous five bucks because they know they can get you. So bring money because you will end up breaking down and buying a $5 bottle of water, but it’s important to stay hydrated.”

Drink water and cool: As tempting as it is to party hardy at an outdoor festival, it’s important to remember that sun and alcohol are a dangerous combination. In addition to slathering on sunscreen and taking breaks in the shade, Thompson recommends steering clear of the beer. “It’s not a good idea to drink alcohol at outdoor [events], even though there tend to be a ton of people walking around having a good time at the beer garden or walking around with delicious-looking drinks. They are usually hugely overpriced, a waste of money and you can get super dehydrated from it. I suggest trying not to drink alcohol at festivals if you can.”

Although Thompson’s tips should keep you on your toes and out of the medical tents, it’s worthwhile to remember that you can’t plan for everything. There’s always the possibility for manic weather—hello, Woodstock—lost items or artist cancelations. But as long as you stay positive and flexible, you’ll enjoy yourself all fest long. Rock on!